Not trying to offend anyone , I get a lot of good info off the forums . But in the last 2 years I have asked multiple questions on different forums on things I was trying to do , probably 60+ pct of the reply's said it won't work or you can't do it Things like putting a air-gap on a 76 . It went in with no clearance problems . Running 11 to 1 with 91 oct gas , my car running the strongest now that it ever has ( but the guy that tuned it did say there was still more in it if I went to higher oct .). Now the car in gear idles at 750 and if you jump on it , it smokes the tires ( used to have to stand on the brakes to 2500+ rpm to get them to squeak ). So far up to 70 mph if you tap the gas it lifts the front. And I don't have to leave it in gear to get it to shut off .
Just wondering on how you guys choose what to do or not to do . I am one that try's to get as much info as possible but is more then likely to do it and change something later . Had already had it in my mind to get a new hood if the intake ended up being to high .
I am in the archery business and get the same thing in those forums , but been doing it for over 25 years so I know how to pick and choose there .
Here I only know enough to be dangerous and only answer a question if it about something I have already done and its worked other wise I just read.
Have a wonderful day !

 

Kind of goes back to the old saying, " you have 2 ears and only one mouth" , listen twice as much as you talk. Some of the things said here are just re-stated without real life experience from the posters. It makes it hard to sort out at times because the some of the posters who are wrong will speak with the same authority as the experts.

 

info is free so....

 

Gotta go with your gut and with what makes sense for your build.
Lots of the time you get advice trying to steer you in a direction you didn't ask about or don't want to go.
Sometimes the "experts" know what they are talking about they can be more like specialists and only recognize a very narrow view of the operation, so that's all your going to get from them. Race engine vs street engine.
Some of the "internet cowboys" can in fact show light on something you had not thought of and is worthy of consideration. They typically do lots of reading with little or no experience. But that reading can be up to date vs some one who is presenting 30 year old knowledge.
Some things don't change much but many do, so up to date information is important if you want the best outcome at the time.

I see you are running a rubber fuel line under the hood in another thread you started, go ahead and ask about that, see what you get.

Your best defense against BS is to do some or lots of studying yourself. Don't depend on any one source for information, vary it a bit, opinions do vary greatly at times.

 

The posts that suggest WHAT to do and also tell you WHY you want to do it are the ones you should be paying attention to.

The others may have useful info....maybe not. But, if they don't explain why you want to go that way, just put that info on the 'back burner' until you get close to making your decision.

 

My experience from other forums (I am a new guy around here) is that most advice is overcooked on the internet. I like to hear how to do it the right way, so I welcome the discussion, but it is just a data point. The guys with the shortcuts and less elegant solutions are usually more quiet. The trick is to get them to talk.

 

I have seen this anomaly and dont really understand it but it does seem in many cases when someone asks about something especially a modifacation most or too many replies are presented in a negative fashion, non fact based way,

Might be from someone who never spun a wrench, might be from the guy who has to thump his chest how long hes been doing it, doesnt matter,

Truth is anyone can have some good tech and some dog doodoo, sadly a novice doesnt know the diffrence,

I have learned new ways of seeking information,
Just as example, if i asked is a xxxx carb a good one for my mild 454, lol,
I get a 15 page carb debate, and very little useful info,

But if i ask, who runs a xxxx carb on a 454, then i get a bit more refined reply, if some know it all has to spew about it being junk and that i should do it his way,
i place him in my mental file of being a walking stack of fertilizer, not because his opinion is right or wrong but because i didnt ask him For it.

I wish tech questions were answered in a non biaed fact based way, good or bad, facts not opinions, but thats just not how forum are.

 

You are quite correct. Problem is that if a suggestion is not, safe enough, legal enough, socially responsible enough, or in line with the thinking of the ruling thought of the day they get crucified. So they keep it to themselves, mostly.
Go ahead and try it out, throw a log in the fire that you know is not in line with the thought of the particular forum and see how hot it burns.

 

This is the only question I feel was being asked.

For me...the answer to this question ALL depends on what the owner of the Corvette wants..and is willing to pay for.

Some want me to put small chamber heads on it to increase compression...but that is waste of time once the heads come off and there is a SERIOUS ridge at the top of the cylinder...and that is also not mentioned the CAST PISTONS and connecting rods that are not as like those GM used back in the day when the engines were higher horsepower.etc. So it can escalate.

And often times many people do not want to deal with 'things changing' and because they read it on the internet....I should be able to give them the same thing.

It reminds me of a young guy with a 1989 Corvette ( or something like that) who brought his car to me and bought every part from the Corvette supplier that can be swapped out or attached to the engine. When he added up all of the 'claims' that each part stated would increase horsepower 'X'...he was telling me that his engine will be increased 75+ HP and also serious torque... and I chuckled...and told him that it does not work that way.

I guess it depends on how baldy someone wants something and whatever it takes to get it to that point.

DUB

 

you'll learn who the bozos are. Keep a list of the guys that always so it won't work and just ignore them and find the guys that give good info and what happened when they tried something. The good guys usually will tell you how they failed and why and what they did to fix it

 

I normally do a lot of reading before ever asking a question. I also tend to look for people who have done whatever I'm considering doing, and what their experiences were (positive and negative). That's a lot more useful than someone who says it can't be done or that they would never do it, though if the naysayers provide reasons then those reasons need to be considered. I also take your attitude of doing it anyway if I think I can make it work! I'm also happily running an 11.1:1 compression street engine.

 

"Go ahead and try it out, throw a log in the fire that you know is not in line with the thought of the particular forum and see how hot it burns."

Can you say "Too Broke?"

 

One thing is for sure....you will find opinions 180 degrees opposite on every subject, with people who will argue their point. That has proven to me that ultimately all you can do it read as much as you can, apply your own thoughts and experience to every subject, and just make a decision. Never believe anything written by anyone makes it so. In many cases I think people lack the skills to properly communicate in writing, and how people read what is written can be way off from what the guy is trying to say.

 

Ah. A distant memory.

 

Like yourself and others, I also visit other forums and not just for cars. You are totally correct in that this is not a forum with an excessive amount of gentle kindness. It’s more of a don’t park your six shooters at the door environment. Remember that when you post for an OP, that info given is really for that person in an effort to move them along in their search for an answer. The opinions of the other forum members are just like steering wheels, everybody has one. When you visit this forum, just bring along a sense of humor, it will be your best asset.

 

Anything can be done but you have to know your limits, budget/reliability/longevity etc. I usually tend to go with people that have experienced what i am trying to do or are well respected on the forum, if you search enough you can figure them out. You example of 11:1 on 91 is a good example alot will tell you you cant do it, you are and you now have the exp. That you can say yes you can just cant run more than X degrees of timing.

 

Quoted for truth.


It takes some discernment to recognize who actually knows their stuff and who is just spouting something they read somewhere or the "forum correct" opinion. Fact of the matter is, a guy can "know" a ton of stuff from reading all kinds of articles online and then spout it out to a newbie as fact (because he believes it is). But a lot of times, the articles themselves are misleading.


When I did my head, cam, intake swap on my car I did a ton of research and asked a ton of questions. Literally 80% of the people who commented told me my combo was wrong and my cam was too big. But after I little poking around I found out that those guys had never done any serious engine work before, so to me their knowledge was fairly useless. Found a guy who had given me some sound advice and PM'ed him my proposed combo to see what he thought. I ended up putting in a cam that almost everyone was trying to say was the wrong choice and heads that were "too big" for my combo. Guess what? I couldn't be happier. Nice crisp choppy idle, tons of power all through the rev range. Perfect street motor.


Moral of the story? Don't just trust the guys spouting info, no matter how intelligent they sound. Find the guys who actually have DONE some of the things you want to do and are actually USING those parts and ask them.

 

BTW- I'm a french Model...

I always like to post a pic to either- help out or cut the BS...

AND -

The more I learn- I realize the less I know- be wary of the guy that knows everything....

 

It sounds like you want to tinker and that's good!
The first thing most tinkers play with is the timing. Mark or write down where you started and then bump the timing up a degree or two. Then test drive. Hit the highway, long hills and preferably on a hot day. Keep doing that until you hear pinging or have a hard starting issue. Then back off to your previous setting or try a higher octane fuel.
Next would be plugs. Check YouTube for indexing plugs. It's very simple and you can feel the difference if there were a lot of plugs indexed poorly.
I'm assuming you already have a performance carb and exhaust so next would be a higher ratio rocker arm or just try different valve adjustments.

 

I like to hear how to do it the right way
Yes, tell me about this. Because there is no one way to do something wright or is there? I we been read only member and also learn to find "right" peoples to who think same way than I do = suspension , engine or so build them same way.